Liverpool school opponents vent anger

Anne Tarasov25 Feb 2014, 2:08 p.m.

RESIDENTS living in streets surrounding Liverpool's Al Amanah College say they are planning to take their complaint against the Liverpool Council's support of the school to the state's corruption watchdog.

Liverpool school opponents vent anger

Traffic concerns: Branimir Knezevic says since it was opened Al Amanah College has significantly impacted on traffic flows of the suburban streets that surround it. Picture: Luke Fuda

RESIDENTS living in streets surrounding Liverpool's Al Amanah College say they are planning to take their complaint against the Liverpool Council's support of the school to the state's corruption watchdog.

Branimir Knezevic said the Speed Street school built many of its buildings without council approval and had failed to comply with its development application requirements.

"But the council later approved everything after it was done," Mr Knezevic said.

He said a group of residents who opposed the school were considering taking the matter to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

"Since the school has been here the traffic situation in streets around it has become unbearable," he said.

"There are 600 children there and many of them are dropped off and picked up by car, all at the same time in the morning and afternoon and the traffic comes to standstill at those times.

"It wasn't right to approve a school this size in this location."

Liverpool councillor Tony Hadchiti said the council approved the school because council officers recommended that after a thorough investigation into the matter.

"Yes, there was no council approval as such when some of the construction was done, but they had funding from the federal government, which was encouraging schools around the country to just start building halls without delay," Cr Hadchiti said.

He said traffic was a problem around most schools statewide.

"Most schools overestimate how many people will get there by bus, so you end up with a lot of traffic out the front," he said.

Al Amanah College principal Mohamad El Dana said the school had implemented a traffic-management plan which had reduced traffic congestion during pick-up and drop-off times.

"It is our view that there are no excessive traffic issues," Mr El Dana said. "When holding events the school implements its traffic-management plan to avoid any problems that may arise."